Large round breads, such as a French bread round or a large black bread, make perfect bowls for dips after they've been hollowed out. Carving out the middle of the bread is very easy to do, and the resulting bowl makes a nice addition to your hors d'oeuvres table.

To make a bread bowl for dips, just follow these steps:

1. Find a bread round that is about 8 inches across and about 6 inches high.

2. Take a small, sharp knife, such as a paring knife, and cut out a circle from the top of the bread, about 6 inches around and about 1 inch deep. Set aside this "lid."

3. Lift off this round piece of bread with your fingers. Remove the bread from the center of the loaf, again using your fingers, and create a bowl-like cavity.

Be careful as you hollow out the bread, making sure to leave the sides and bottom intact. You'll probably be able to tell if your fingers are getting close to the sides and bottom, so trust your sense of touch. You may want to try to remove as much of the inner bread as possible in one big piece. Then you can cube the bread and serve it along with your dip-filled bread bowl. You also can use the hollowed-out bread to make breadcrumbs, or you can snack on it as you go.

4. Fill the bread with a dip or spread and cover with the bread "lid" until ready to serve.

You can make your bread bowl right before you need it, or you can hollow the bread out the day before and store it in a resealable plastic bag.

Tip: If you're bringing dip to a party, pack it into a bread bowl instead of a "real" bowl. That way, you don't have to worry about leaving a serving dish behind.